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3. The Great Discourse on the Final Nibbāna 131. Thus have I heard: At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājagaha, on Gijjhakūṭa mountain. Now at that time King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha desired to attack the Vajjians. He said thus: “I shall utterly destroy these Vajjians, so mighty, so powerful! I shall bring ruin and disaster upon these Vajjians!” 132. Then King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha addressed Vassakāra the Brāhmaṇa, the chief minister of Magadha: “Come, Brāhmaṇa, go to the Blessed One; having approached him, bow your head at the feet of the Blessed One in my name, and ask about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of body, strength, and comfortable dwelling, saying: ‘Venerable Sir, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha bows his head at the feet of the Blessed One and asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of body, strength, and comfortable dwelling.’ And say this: ‘Venerable Sir, King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha desires to attack the Vajjians. He says thus: “I shall utterly destroy these Vajjians, so mighty, so powerful! I shall bring ruin and disaster upon them!”’ Whatever the Blessed One declares to you, remember it well and report it to me. For Tathāgatas do not speak falsely.” Vassakāra the Brāhmaṇa 133. “Yes, sir,” replied Vassakāra the Brāhmaṇa, the chief minister of Magadha, to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha. Having prepared excellent carriages, he mounted an excellent carriage and set out from Rājagaha with excellent carriages, heading towards Gijjhakūṭa mountain. As far as the carriage could go, he went by carriage, then dismounted from the carriage and went on foot to where the Blessed One was. Having approached, he exchanged greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the courteous and Having exchanged courteous greetings, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Brahmin Vassakāra, the chief minister of Magadha, said this to the Blessed One: "The king, good Gotama, Ajātasattu, son of Queen Videhi, the king of Magadha, bows his head at the feet of the good Gotama, and asks about his freedom from illness, freedom from affliction, lightness of body, strength, and comfortable living. The king, good Gotama, Ajātasattu, son of Queen Videhi, the king of Magadha, desires to attack the Vajjians. He says this: 'I shall uproot these Vajjians, so mighty, so powerful! I shall destroy the Vajjians! I shall bring the Vajjians to ruin and destruction!'" The Conditions of Welfare for Rulers 134. Now at that time, the Venerable Ānanda was standing behind the Blessed One, fanning him. Then the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Ānanda: "What have you heard, Ānanda, 'that the Vajjians hold frequent assemblies, and many assemblies'?" "I have heard, sir, 'that the Vajjians hold frequent assemblies, and many assemblies'." "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjians hold frequent assemblies, and many assemblies, growth is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. "What have you heard, Ānanda, 'that the Vajjians assemble in unity, rise in unity, and carry out their Vajjian affairs in unity'?" "I have heard, sir, 'that the Vajjians assemble in unity, rise in unity, and carry out their Vajjian affairs in unity'." "As long as, Ānanda, the Vajjians assemble in unity, rise in unity, and carry out their Vajjian affairs in unity, growth is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. "What have you heard, Ānanda, 'that the Vajjians do not enact what has not been enacted, do not abolish what has been enacted, and live in accordance with the ancient Vajjian laws as enacted'?" "I have heard, sir, 'that the Vajjians do not enact what has not been enacted, do not abolish what has been enac ... but will live in accordance with the ancient Vajjian traditions as they were laid down. As long as, Ananda, the Vajjians do not enact what has not been enacted, do not abolish what has been enacted, but live in accordance with the ancient Vajjian traditions as they were laid down, growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. What have you heard, Ananda? That the Vajjians respect, honor, esteem, and revere those Vajjian elders among the Vajjians, and consider their words worth listening to? I have heard this, Venerable Sir: That the Vajjians respect, honor, esteem, and revere those Vajjian elders among the Vajjians, and consider their words worth listening to. As long as, Ananda, the Vajjians respect, honor, esteem, and revere those Vajjian elders among the Vajjians, and consider their words worth listening to, growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. What have you heard, Ananda? That the Vajjians do not abduct and forcibly detain the women and maidens of their clans? I have heard this, Venerable Sir: That the Vajjians do not abduct and forcibly detain the women and maidens of their clans. As long as, Ananda, the Vajjians do not abduct and forcibly detain the women and maidens of their clans, growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. What have you heard, Ananda? That the Vajjians respect, honor, esteem, and revere those Vajjian shrines, both internal and external, and do not neglect the righteous offerings given and performed in the past? I have heard this, Venerable Sir: That the Vajjians respect, honor, esteem, and revere those Vajjian shrines, both internal and external, and do not neglect the righteous offerings given and performed in the past. As long as, Ananda, the Vajjians those Vajjian the Vajjian shrines, both internal and external, they will honor, respect, revere, and worship. And they will not neglect the righteous offerings given and made before to them. Growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. “What have you heard, Ananda, ‘that for the Vajjians, righteous protection, guarding, and security for the Arahants is well-established, so that Arahants who have not yet come may come to the realm, and Arahants who have come may dwell at ease in the realm’?” “I have heard, Bhante, ‘that for the Vajjians, righteous protection, guarding, and security for the Arahants is well-established, so that Arahants who have not yet come may come to the realm, and Arahants who have come may dwell at ease in the realm’.” “As long, Ananda, as for the Vajjians, righteous protection, guarding, and security for the Arahants is well-established, so that Arahants who have not yet come may come to the realm, and Arahants who have come may dwell at ease in the realm. Growth alone, Ananda, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline.” 135. Then the Blessed One addressed Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha: “Once, brahmin, I was dwelling in Vesālī at the Sārandada Shrine. There I taught the Vajjians these seven conditions of non-decline. As long, brahmin, as these seven conditions of non-decline remain among the Vajjians, and the Vajjians are seen to possess these seven conditions of non-decline, growth alone, brahmin, is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline.” When this was said, Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha, said to the Blessed One: “Even with just one condition of non-decline, growth alone is to be expected for the Vajjians, not decline. What then of seven conditions of non-decline? The Vajjians are indeed invincible, good Gotama, to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, the son of Videhī, as far as war is concerned.” except for flattery, except for causing division. Well now, good Gotama, we go, we have much to do, many duties. Now, brahmin, you may do as you think fit. Then indeed Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha, having rejoiced in and approved the Blessed One's words, rose from his seat and departed. Conditions for the Non-Decline of Monks 136. Then indeed, not long after Vassakāra the brahmin, the chief minister of Magadha, had departed, the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda: "Go, Ānanda, gather all the monks residing near Rājagaha in the service hall." "Yes, venerable sir," Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and having gathered all the monks residing near Rājagaha in the service hall, he approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: "The assembly of monks, venerable sir, is gathered. Now, venerable sir, the Blessed One may do as he thinks fit." Then indeed the Blessed One, rising from his seat, approached the service hall; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Having sat down, indeed the Blessed One addressed the monks: "Monks, I shall teach you seven conditions of non-decline. Listen to that, pay careful attention, I shall speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "As long as, monks, the monks will hold frequent assemblies, will be numerous in assembly, growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. "As long as, monks, the monks will assemble in unity, will rise in unity, will perform the duties of the Saṅgha in unity, growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. "As long as, monks, the monks will not enact what has not been enacted ...they will not abolish what has been laid down, they will undertake and live by the training rules as laid down, growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. As long as, monks, the bhikkhus those bhikkhus who are elders, long-experienced, long-ordained, fathers of the Saṅgha, leaders of the Saṅgha, they will honor them, respect them, esteem them, revere them, and will consider what they say worth listening to, growth alone, monks, is to be expected for the bhikkhus, not decline. As long as, monks, the bhikkhus do not fall under the power of craving that leads to renewed existence,